★ Zenkai POV ★
"Since we don't know who she's with or working for, we have to wait until Rigo comes then." I handed Marek the files.
The following day, Rigo came rushing in after receiving news about my assassination attempt.
"Boss?" Rigo's voice rang out, his face contorted with shock, his mouth wide open at the sight of me.
"Rigo, what's the status of your report?"
"The reports are flowing in strongly, plenty of them all hitting the mark, and every one of them is in our favor," he disclosed, clearing his throat, his gaze trailing on me.
"What did you find?" My tone was flat.
"The night you sent me out, I discovered two external forces snooping. One at the company and another at the club. I tailed the ones at the company and asked Serena to track the other one."
"And?"
"Some of our brokers are already working with other families; some are selling information, precisely from your assistant, which is why your schedule has been leaking."
I'm already aware that my PA is involved; he's the one responsible for creating and scheduling plans. That doesn't matter; whatever he's selling out is useless, it's nothing but a front.
Which I'm going to use to rope out all these snakes, when the time is right.
"On following them, I was led to the Morreti villa, who surprisingly was meeting up with two other family heads and a third unknown person."
An unknown person? Could it be her!
"Did you get to catch this person's face?" I asked.
"Yes, I did," he answered.
A shiver ran up my spine as the hair on the back of my neck rose.
He continued, "I asked Serena, and she sent me a video of them captured by the nearest camera she could access." He took out a laptop, playing the footage.
A man? That wasn't what I was expecting.
A sharp, involuntary shiver tore up my spine, goosebumps erupting across my arms, and before I could catch myself, a sigh slipped out of my chest.
Did I just sigh in relief that it wasn't her? A humorless breath escaped me, as the corner of my mouth twitching in irritation. What the hell...am I scared of her now?
"Has he been placed on facial recognition yet?"
"Yes Boss," Rigo confirmed, "and it turns out he is the Underboss of the La Cour Noire."
"What are they doing with the French?"
If they are with France, it's either they want underground dealings in art, fashion, jewelry... or assassination. That's the only thing France is into. So the Morreti are involved in the attempt. Or is this what they want me to think.
Someone has been trying to carve out pieces of my empire behind closed doors. Like wolves in suits, feeding on Kastone's blood while smiling across the table. Fools. They mistake my silence for weakness.
They don't just want a piece of my empire; they want to dismantle the throne. But a king without a throne is just a joke. And I am far from being dethroned.
And I'm going to hold them by the throat when they are at their knees. "Who are the family heads with Morreti?" I questioned, my gaze not leaving the iPad.
"The other family heads are the De Santi and Harakhi," Rigo added.
"Harakhi?" My eyes flicked to his face. "Why are they popping up again? It seems not being in touch is making their ambition grow."
The question here is, why is Harakhi with them? They are the bottom feeders, one I clearly ostracized myself. So why are they appearing in the picture now?
Since after... that..., the Harakhi has remained in the shadow, becoming a calculator, that never wants to risk their pristine hands in any messy games again. Their presence now only means one thing; it's either the ruling hand has changed, and that 'someone' is the real target.
"And the other lead Serena was on to?"
"She lost them, Boss."
"How come?"
"The plate number was fake, and after going through the tunnel, they didn't come out on the other side."
That's amusing. I thought.
An unconscious chuckle escaped my lips as the thought settled: it's her.
You think you can just stabbed me and vanished, butterfly? Not happening, not when I can still feel the pain of your blade still in my lungs. Not when I can still smell the scent of your body and hair.
The footage of her in the club and the one they could find are all useless. I've got to find her no matter what. And when I do, we continue from where we stopped, then feed her her own medicine.
"The Bratva Kvas reached out; they are assisting us with our course as long as we continue to protect."
"How are the rumors going, Marek?"
"Smoothly, Boss," Marek replied.
"We are to continue our charades, until I've procured all that is needed. Enzo, hold a party, invite every infamous doll you can find, and make a bet of five million dollars at whatever casino that can loudly spread my name far and wide."
"On it, Boss," Enzo said.
I need those fucking old geezers to keep underestimating me and possibly let their guards down.
And that little devil, whoever she is, she is still out there, somewhere in my city, working with my enemies, planning to slit my throat again.
"And also," I said, bringing their attention back to me. "Make preparations for a party. My birthday is coming up very soon. Invite all the families."
"But why? Boss, it's been so long since you threw a party?" Marek asked.
"I've got to draw out, Butterfly."
"How'd a birthday party draw her out?" he asked again.
"Since I'm still alive, she'd want to complete her mission, and if she's working for any of the families, she'd be attending too. I've got to find her."
"No need to say much, Boss, I will personally see to it that it comes out the best," Enzo replied, even though I wasn't talking to him.
"Marek, help him with any assistance he'd need."
"Yes, Boss."
This party...is solely celebrated because of you, Little Demon. And if it doesn't bait you out, then I will tear down this whole city to find you myself and drag you back here.
I need her on top me again, looking down on me with that defiance that causes a shiver down my spine even as she kept driving her blade inside me.
I want that.
For some reason, the thought fills me with a whole new wave of rage. But this sudden onslaught of white heat is different to what I was feeling before.
It's more protective.
She's mine to torture, and no one else's.